Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-18
Leaving a deficiency of-.-.-..--.-.s
e efnrrad To the Einance Cnmmittpe

I, 0H AtnVc on uHuu Uy 4IcAsuIcE =
l S4 l
Leaving a deficiency of--.----$ 40 l
Referred to the Finance Committee.
The Finance COMMITTEES by Alderman
Richards reported that the Treasurer
and Police Magistrates annual reports
handed in at the last meeting were correct
and recommended that they be filed. Also
the report of the Street COMMISSIONS
showing his collection of $6O.95 anc
vouchers for the same, which they ap
proved and recommended filing.
The Finance Committees annua report
was also read by Mr.. Richards, showing q
balance of 81 at date. There was a dis
crepancy between the Treasurer's report
and that of the Finance Committee oi
$47O.15. The Committee referred to or
dinancs IS governing the administration
OF the Treasurers Office, to account fo1
the difference between their result and that
OF the City Treasurer, and claimed that
their Interpretation was correct.
Mr.. Hauswirth explained that his under.
standing was he was to get 5 per cent
on all taxes collected. The Council &C.
cepted the monthly reports which he had
made on the same basis. and now he is in
formed that he is only entitled to 5 per
ceut. on the general tax. He had made the
report after taking legal advice.
Mr.. Pinkham moved that the report OF
the Finance Committee be received, adopted,
placed on file and published. Carried.
Mr.. Richards said that the Finance Com
mittee reported back the final report OF
the Treasurer as in error to the amount
mentioned.
Mr.. Grix made a statement to the effect
that when the last salary law was made
they thought the receipts would be larger
than the year before. When the new sal
airy law was passed it was amended to
read that the new City Treasurer shall re-
ceive only 5 per cent on the general tax.
The Finance Committee didn't examine the
Treasurer's reports infinitely every month
during the year, and only calculated his
percentages in considering the annual re-
port. He moved to lay the Treasurer's re-
port on the table, so that it might be dealt
with by the incoming administration. Car
ried.
Mr.. Richards read the report just handed
in by the Police Magistrate for the week
and moved that it be filed. So ordered.
Mr.. Richards presented the bill OF Messrs.
L. J. Hamilton and Thos. S. Napton for
81, 900 in the case of Murray VS.. the City,
the Smokehouse cases, to cover charges in
the District and Supreme Courts of the
Territory and file brief in the Supreme
Court of the United States in case OF ne
cessity. An additional fee OF $500 was
charged for argument before the Supreme
Court of the United States. The Commit
tee thought the fee asked too much, and
after personal Investigation recommended
that a contract be made with these gentle
men for $1,000 to do all that they con-
tract to do and that a retaining fee of$75O
he paid them N a warrant be drawn for
that amount. The recommendation was
accepted.
Mr.. Martin, street commissioner, reported
that he had investigated the petition for
a sidewalk on Washington street and had
found the signatures correct and notified
the parties to 60 on with the sidewalk.
Mr.. Pinkham made no report from the
street committee as he made one at every
meeting. He regretted the streets and
alleys were not as literally provided for by
the city as was the item OF police in which
the city expended for looking after the
morals OF the city a sum of $4,000 in ex-
cess of that for street improvement.
Mr.. Richards reported from a select ON
mittee to examine into the account OF
Messr.. White and Pascoe for loss OF a COW
allowing them SIS as compensation.
Mr.. Loeber made a minority report
orally opposing allowance OF the account
on the ground that those who dug the
shaft should I've looked to for compensa-
tion instead Of the City of Butte. in view
OF the unsettled ownership Of the city
over the streets.
Mr.. Richards thought the claim a Just
one. He would not pay the claim to
AVOID a lawsuit. He recommended pay
ment after taking sound legal advice. The |
city assumed the responsibility Of the
shalt when it became a corporation. as the
shaft was in existence for years before the
city became incorporated. and the city in
trying to fill it, and doing so as ineffectively
as it did, must suffer the loss.
Messrs. Forbis and Loeber opposed the
payment OF the bill on the ground that the
city has no ownership in the streets.
Mr.. Richards: The city in attempting to
fill that shaft assumed the responsibility
by assuming control of that shaft. Legal
authority is in favor OF this view.
Mr.. erik thought that Mr.. Loeber was
in saying that the city did not
own the streets. The city had just paid
81 800 to a for defending their title.
The motion OF the majority prevailed.
MIR. Hamilton handed in the bond of the
street railroad grantees. showing W. A..
Clark and E. E. Congdon securities. with
the grantees as principals, in $4,000 to
faithfully perform the conditions of the
ordinance already passed. 1t was placed
file.
A number of small accounts were all
lowed. Among the rest a bill of $57. so
District Court; one for $50 from Mar
shall Jolley for election clerks; for S26 for
publishing Fire Department notices in
The MINER, and $1,000 for general ac-
count with the same.
When all the business had been trans
acted Alderman Wm. P. Forbis offered
the following resolution:
Be it Resolved that a vote of thanks he
oV tended tn His Honor Tho Noro~ e. a..
lair and impartial manner in which he has
presided over the deliberations OF this
body the past year, which was carried
unanimously by a rising vote.
4 vote OF thanks was also extended to
he retiring Aldermen.
Judge Mediation then administered the
oath of office to the newly elected Mayor. I,
Kenyon, when Mayor Frank. in a few
veil chosen remarks, said that he hoped
he pleasant relations which had existed
turing the past year would continue to re.
main the same.
Mr.. Kenyon then took the chair, after {
Which the newly elected Aldermen were
in and tool their places. |
Mayor Frank then made some pertinent
to the new Council in regard to
uture deliberations, saying he hoped that !
his Council would give the city a new !
%narter. as the present one is very defect i
We. be also cautioned them about the 2
'ealth of the city. suggesting that the al j
eys and streets be thoroughly cleansed t
md kept in good sanitary condition to t
prevent epidemics; and that the city ordi-
lances be compiled in proper sha De. VT. ,
rank also recommended that the CITY .
hou'd have a permanent grade estab- !
lshed, and to stop the tearing up of the .
treets AMI alleys for mining purposes. =
he Council should also stop the storing :
i explosives within the corporate limits b
then said that some means should be :.
mployed to compel the Silver Bow Water =
Company to pay city licenses. and that :
should also be taken to compel the ,
Inst National Bank OF this city to pay !.
ity taxes which they we're not now doing. !
.ast but not least that there should be an !;
mendment to the present registry Law 4
hat if a man was absent during the time
i reFistration he sh .uld MT be dis